New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
SAD DEATH OF A STUDENT.
SHOOTING HIMSELF BY ACCIDENT.


A PROMISING FRESHMAN IN THE CTTY'S COLLEGE
RESULT OF BUYING A PISTOL.
Gilbert Austin Fish, age seventeen promising mem
Der of the freshman class In the College Of the City OF
Now York, died yesterday morning from sefinnicted
pisolsh0 wound the fourth floor OF the nathouse
No 341 West Twentythirdst The shooting occurred on
Friday evening and was believed to be acci-
dental. Gilbert was the only son OF Arthur
T. Fish. cashier in sloane's carpet store in Broad
He lively, athletic young fellow. ambitious
In his studies aud general favorte among his class
mates In the subreshman class last year he stood No
49, and he first in several studies at the last exam
nation OF the present college year His friends expected
that he would take first place in the examinations at the
close OF the spring term Although he had been studying
hard OF late, his health had not suffered In the least
and he in excellent spirits when he alto din
with his father, mother ana grand
mother Friday evening. Mrs. Fish went to
visit sick niece after dinner and Gilbert was to call for
her later Mr. Fish went out Of the house for walk ana
returned at o'clock Gilbert had left his grandmother
in the parlor and gono into tho bathroom Mr. Fish hal
just entered the private hall Of tho rooms on his return
from the street. when he heard plstolsho in the bath
room.
What Is thati" he inquired
Bcry must be In there" exclaimed the grandmother,
looking toward the bathroom door
Mr.. Fish hastily entered the bathroom and found his
son insensble the floor. Near the youth lay small
reyoIver which he had recently purchased. In few
minutes The inmates OF the house were running aDoutn
great excitement A. Bond, editor OF The FuTnisher
and Decorator up from his rooms below those OF the
Fish family and helped TO carry the wounded youth to
bed in another apartment lie then summoned
DR.. Wells, OF No. 231 West Twenty -thrdsf
while Mr.. Fish went out to call the
family physician. Miss Annie Robe the Lead leading n
lower floor OF the house, but her mother went 10 oer
nj had Lon
below the heart and had taken downward course Inc
youth still nsensibe and almost pnseess and the
but after receiving several small doses OF brandy
and water the patient partly IRON and 1e OF
the first words he uttered was anodyne Later he
made frequent appeals for drug which would mitigate
Dr. Wells endoavorcd to asccitan how the shooting had
occurred and tho youth said accidental several times
He made the same reply his father and at one time
made attempt to illustrate the manner In Whcn ne
AZ the pau OF his left hand was blackened with pow
der evident irom his motons that he had held the
barrel OF tho weapon n that hand aud that he was exam
InIng the breech when he shot himself Ills mother was
much distressed when she reached his bedside ana ahh
ious to know II there any hope of saving hsif DR.
Wells said cautiously that the wound not necessarily
fatal and Gilbert said weakly: Hope isn't Later w.
he turned an appealing glance to DR.. Yale, Of NO 432
Madisonave who was then IN attendance; ms q1es h
concluded the spinal cord had been injured and ms
reply In the affirmative Gilberts ps qnveteau anu anu
remembrances Of past athletic sports must nave nttea
through his brain before lie feeDly uttered. " kather
DEATH" .
From that time until he died from internal hemorrhage
at a. H. yesterday. the suffering youth could not utter
more than a word or two without waiting TO recover MS
srepgth lie told his mother In that way that the shoot
ing accidental and lie asked her to forgive MIN ior
purchasing the revolver without her knowledge
Ills parents were heartbroken account OF his death
yesterday and they needessy tortured Dy pun
,shed story that he had committed suicide while insane
! from over-sludy. Mr. Fish said there was no
! doubt that the shooting was accidental Dr. Meiis
! expressed tho same conviction. The family servant
said heard Gilbert singing lively college song lew
minutes before the shot was fired His classmates ana
members OF his college society who called at the mouse To
express their sympathy said that lie was the last person
In The world contemplate suicide. Deputy-Cofoner
schoer went the house yesterday and gave permission
for tho arran gcments for a quierfuneral today
| rhe bouse 4. one OF a row OF brownstone
buildings known the Vienna tlats III WAS
! In that house that William H. Haverstok
hroser sas dead March 10, 1ss3, by George W.
Conkllug Government surveyor, OF Reno, New mIs.
Emma CHER ,onkiugs sister had been living there Wih
IaVerstick and Conkling trying to induce her tn
leave him when nversck nterfercd. Conkling and his
sister have since died.